Nothing is official, but Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he expects starting pitcher A.J. Burnett to exercise his player option for 2015 rather than retiring from MLB.
The clock is ticking for Philadelphia Phillies right-hander A.J. Burnett to decide if he’s going to retire from MLB, or if he will indeed pick up a $12.75-million player option for the 2015 season, and Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he doesn’t have any information, but he thinks Burnett will pitch next season.
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Burnett signed with the Phillies as a free agent before the 2014 season, and had considered retirement then as well, as well as after the 2013 season. The Phillies convinced him to reconsider with a unique contract that offered a lucrative mutual option of $15 million for the 2015 season, but Philadelphia will almost assuredly decline their side of the mutual option after Burnett had a poor 2014 season, posting a 4.59 ERA in 213.2 innings pitched. But Burnett’s contract also included a $7.5 million-dollar player option for the 2015 season, and that player option also included escalator clauses that Burnett eventually reached, and increased the value of the the player option to $12.75 million.
While Burnett had a poor season, he still has some value as an innings-eater, particularly on a bad team like the Phillies, and even $12.75 million for next season isn’t bad if he can give Philadelphia another 200-plus innings. Amaro seemed indifferent regarding whether or not he wanted Burnett to return:
“I’m really kind of neutral on it,” said Amaro. “I knew what it took to get him back and pitching this year. I would assume that he’d want to pitch again. I don’t have that information, but my inclination is that he’s going to want to pitch. He’s a competitive guy.”
Burnett has until five days after the World Series ends to exercise his player option. If he fails to do so, he can still change his mind and pitch again in 2015, but he will be considered a free agent.
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